Better-Body Breakthroughs

Jane Roberts had always thought her body would do what she wanted it to do. Then her hip, weakened by an old ice-skating injury and the onset of osteoarthritis, started to betray her. "I used to play tennis regularly," says the 60-year-old literary agent living in McLean, VA. "But it got to where I was in pain whether I was standing, walking, or even sleeping." So a couple of years ago she had hip replacement surgery to swap the damaged joint for a high-tech new one. She has zero regrets. Instead, she has a standing date for tennis nearly every day--and virtually no pain.

Roberts is among the roughly 638,000 Americans each year who exchange worn hips or knees for new ones. And the trend is growing: Between 1990 and 2002, the number of hip replacements increased by 50%, and surgeries for new knees increased nearly 300%, a study found last year. Other body parts are being refurbished at a fast clip, too. One reason is obvious: As we live longer, we expect to be active longer, too. The other reason: In the past few years, artificial parts have gotten amazing upgrades. If you or someone you love is looking to make a trade, check out Prevention's guide to the latest breakthroughs.

New Hips, New Knees, No Waiting

Though the average candidate for a new knee or hip is between 65 and 67, today 1 in 3 surgeries is performed on someone younger than 60.

The Old Way
Doctors cut tendons and muscles to replace damaged cartilage and bone with a man-made joint.

The Latest
Minimally invasive techniques use shorter (half the length) incisions and avoid tendons, muscles, and other tissue, says E. Anthony Rankin, MD, a clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at Howard University School of Medicine. The result is a smaller scar, less pain, and a faster recovery: just 1 or 2 days in the hospital, compared with 4 to 5 with the older method. If you're under 55 or fit, however, an even newer procedure may be right for you. See "The Best New Hip for Active Adults."

Keep In Mind
Not all surgeons are up to speed on this advanced procedure, so you may have to shop around. Plus, this technique requires more time under anesthesia, ruling it out for some people.[pagebreak]

Better Fixes for a Broken Heart

Due to hardened or leaky heart valves that can eventually lead to heart failure and death, doctors perform about 95,000 valve replacements annually, according to the American Heart Association.

The Old Way
Surgeons saw through the breastbone, open a heart chamber, and swap the faulty valve with a mechanical or biological one (the latter is fashioned from the tissue of animals or human cadavers). Customarily, docs favor the mechanical kind because it lasts longer--but patients must take blood thinners for the rest of their lives.

The Latest
A handful of heart centers offer a minimally invasive surgery, in which incisions are shorter (just 21 2 to 4 inches) and no bones are broken. That translates to less pain, bleeding, and risk of infection. There's been another upgrade, too: "Surgeons are now putting in more biological valves," says Jamie Brown, MD, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The newer valves are treated with compounds that help prevent the buildup of calcium--a leading reason these transplants fail. What's more, the improved valves don't demand constant blood thinners. After 3 to 5 days in the hospital (that's 1 to 2 days fewer than with the old type) and just 4 to 6 weeks of taking it easy (versus 8 to 10 weeks), most patients can consider themselves recovered.

Keep In Mind
If you need more than one valve replaced or if you're overweight or too muscular, the less-invasive procedure may not work for you. And as with other new techniques, you'll likely have to search to find a doctor who does it.

Seeing Better Than Ever

By age 65, 60% of Americans have a cataract, leading to blurred eyesight and other vision problems. The result: About 2.3 million people get cataract surgery each year.

The Old Way
Doctors replace the cloudy lens with a clear plastic one, which enables the eye to focus on objects at a fixed distance. The problem: Patients may still have to wear reading glasses.

The Latest
Docs now use what are called accommodating lens implants, which allow the eye muscles to control the new lens almost as well as the original. Patients usually wind up with clear vision for distance and reading, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses. "With this surgery, you can expect vision that is equal to or even better than before you had cataracts," says John Ciccone, director of communications for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. And in most cases, the improvement is immediate: You'll notice the difference as you leave the doctor's office.

Keep In Mind
Unlike standard cataract surgery, the new kind is not fully covered by Medicare. You can expect to pay about $2,500 per eye.[pagebreak]

Smile: No Dentures Required

Nearly 70% of people ages 35 to 44 have lost a tooth, and 45% of those 65 and up have said good-bye to at least six.

The Old Way
Remember Grandma's dentures? They slipped uncomfortably and had to be soaked nightly. Partial bridges aren't so great, either. A synthetic tooth is placed between two healthy teeth, which need to be shaved down and fitted with crowns to give the bridge proper support. Worse yet, those once-strong neighboring choppers have a 30% chance of falling out postbridge.

The Latest
Today, more than 800,000 people opt for dental implants each year. Titanium screws, cylinders, or blades are set in the jawbone to hold an artificial tooth in place. If a number of teeth need replacing, a bridge is held in position by the same means. Within 3 months, the implant fuses to the bone, making it as good as the real thing. No healthy teeth need to be sacrificed, and the implant should last a lifetime if properly cared for, says Sally J. Cram, DDS, a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. You'll be back to eating corn on the cob about 3 months after surgery.

Keep In Mind
Insurance probably won't cover the entirety of the $3,000 to $4,000 cost. Also, implants aren't right for those with unhealthy gums or bones.

The Best New Hip for Active Adults

If you have aching hips but are physically fit or younger than 55, you may be a candidate for a procedure called hip resurfacing. Unlike total hip replacement, this operation salvages the head of the femur (the big bone in your leg), reshaping and topping it with a synthetic covering that fits back into the socket. Because less bone is removed, patients can return to a higher level of activity than with a total replacement. To locate a surgeon, go to Birmingham Hop Resurfacing.

Beth HowardBeth Howard writes about health and psychology from North Carolina.

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